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Newly Chosen ‘Elder’ of God’s People and ‘Sign’ of His Love: Rev. Jesus Madrid Jr. is ordained to the sacred order of presbyter

Dec. 21, 2023 08:33 AM

Individual photograph of newly ordained priest of the Archdiocese of Manila, Rev. Fr. Jesus M. Madrid Jr., during the 9:00 A.M. solemn Eucharistic Mass in the Manila Cathedral on December 2, 2023 (Photo by Social Communications Ministry (SOCCOMM), Quiapo Church)

INTRAMUROS, MANILA – Rev. Jesus M. Madrid Jr., deacon assigned to the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of the Black Nazarene (Quiapo Church), is ordained to the sacred order of presbyters by H.E. Jose Cardinal Advincula Jr., Archbishop of Manila, in the Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, also known as the Manila Cathedral. The rite of ordination to priesthood commences during the 9:00 A.M. solemn Eucharistic celebration on December 2, 2023. Rev. Madrid Jr. currently oversees some ministries of Quiapo Church, like the Parish Youth Ministry (PYM) and Ecumenism & Interreligious Affairs Ministry (EIAM).

(Left) Rev. Edward Jay San Diego calls the five candidates to the sacred order of the presbyters as (Right) all elect candidates are ‘Present’ before the congregation witnessing the sacramental order of priesthood (Photos by Social Communications Ministry (SOCCOMM), Quiapo Church)

Rev. Edward Jayson San Diego, newly ordained deacon of Quiapo Church, leads the calling of the five elect deacon candidates for the Holy Orders of priesthood. Aside from Rev. Madrid Jr., the other four deacons are Revs. Kim Joshua N. Bibon, Cristopher S. Crucero, LRMS, Adrian Albert David & Norman M. Gandi. All are present before the assembly as witnessed by the families, relatives, friends, and other guests of the five ordainees for the ministry of priesthood.

(Left) Cardinal Advincula Jr. addresses his homily to the five elect ordainees with (Right) participating clergies of the Archdiocese of Manila (Photos by Social Communications Ministry (SOCCOMM), Quiapo Church)

At the beginning of his homily, Cardinal Advincula Jr. explains the meaning of presbyters derived from the Greek word “presbyters,” which means ‘elders.’ In other words, the five candidates will no longer be considered ‘young’ but as elders of God’s people. As he proceeds, he gives three meanings of the word elder (tanda): maturing, remembering, and signifying. On the first meaning, he contextualizes ‘maturing’ in the Filipino culture as ‘pagtanda‘ (growing up). Cardinal Advincula Jr. associates this with being a priest, who should ‘grow up and grow in space’, which will be measured according to the depth of reliance on God.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist with the newly ordained priests concelebrating (Photos by Social Communications Ministry (SOCCOMM), Quiapo Church)

Cardinal Advicula Jr.’s second meaning translates as ‘remembering’ in Filipino as ‘pagtanda’. As priests, he tells (the ordainees) that they are ‘agents of remembering’, ‘bearers of memory’, and ‘retell the mandate of the Lord.’ That is why it is reflected in the celebration of the Eucharist ‘to recall in word and in deed the teachings of the Lord’ during the Last Supper, where Jesus had said, ‘Do this in memory of me.’ ‘To be a presbyter is to remember the Lord,’ Cardinal Advincula Jr. advises this as he tells the candidates to ‘gratefully remember your love story with the Lord.’

For the last meaning, ‘signifying,’ which in the Filipino context as ‘signages’ (pananda) or ‘markers’ (palatandaan), he associates this in his words: “To be a presbyter is to be such a sign, to be someone who reveals the truth, a goodness, a beauty that is other than himself.” He adds a priest is someone who’ points to the Lord,’ who ‘simply shows Jesus and leads people to Jesus’. To Cardinal Advincula Jr., the importance of the pronoun ‘My’ from the Gospel’ Feed my sheep’ indicates that the people belong to Jesus and not the priests.

In the concluding part of his homily, he describes the ministry of the priesthood as a ‘ministry of joy’ because it is a ‘ministry of love,’ ‘ministry of love,’ and ‘ministry that is found at the heart of Jesus’. Like Mary, Cardinal Advincula Jr. likens her to be ‘most mature,’ ‘full of grace,’ who ‘signifies and points people to Jesus.

(1st row from left to right) The Litany of Supplication as all five candidates prostrate themselves while the assembly invokes on the intercession of all saints in behalf of the elects. (2nd row from left to right) This is followed by the Prayer for Ordination and the investiture of priest stole and chasuble (Photos by Social Communications Ministry (SOCCOMM), Quiapo Church)

Following the homily, the ordainees one by one promise obedience in undertaking the office of priesthood and, likewise, to the Cardinal and his successors. The Litany of Supplication is sung as the elect candidates prostrate themselves, and the assembly kneels, calling on the saints to intercede and pray for future priests. This is followed by the laying of hands by Cardinal Advincula Jr. with the recital of the prayer of ordination. The concelebrating clergies within the Archdiocese of Manila followed suit. The next is the investiture of the priest stole and chasuble assisted by the family of the ordainees and by some priests.

(1st row from left to right) The anointing of palms with chrism oil and the handing of Bread & Wine to the newly ordained priests. (2nd row from left to right) The ordination rite of presbyters concludes with a greeting of kiss from each of the clergies welcoming them as part of the community of priests of Christ (Photos by Social Communications Ministry (SOCCOMM), Quiapo Church)

Toward the last part of the rite, Cardinal Advincula Jr. anoints the palms of the new priests kneeling before him. After this is the handing of bread and wine brought by the families as those are placed in the hand of each of the newly ordained. The concluding part is the kiss of peace, where the rite is sealed, making the newly ordained official part of the community of ordained priests. The new priests are greeted with a kiss from all the clergies within the Archdiocese, welcoming them with fraternal joy. Rev. Fr. Jesus M. Madrid Jr. officially received his appointment as Parochial Vicar of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno.

Rev. Fr. Jesus M. Madrid Jr. officially receives his appointment as one of the new Parochial Vicars of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazarene (Photo by Social Communications Ministry (SOCCOMM), Quiapo Church)

Deo Gratias! A prayerful congratulations with heartfelt love and prayers to you, Rev. Fr. Madrid Jr.! Tu es Sacerdos aeternum!

– Kidanzac A. Tallada | ADRM & EIAM